‘I put myself in my parents’ shoes:’ Dignity and dehumanization in EAL Classrooms

Abstract: This case study account documents and analyses the teaching experiences of Steven (name has been changed) – a southeast Asian man who taught English as an Additional Language in a Western Canadian province. The theoretical framework draws from Anthias’ (2008) notion of intersectionality, which views identity and belonging as multifaceted and complex. Academic writings on language learning and identity as well as language learning policy are used to ground the personal narrative. This article critiques the prescribed nature of language learning courses used in the initial stages of settlement and integration. It offers suggestions to reshape language teaching practices and curricula for new immigrants and refugees to Canada. The conclusions drawn contribute to our understanding of the experiences of language teaching from a marginalized perspective.

Evaluation of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention for Individuals with Aphasia.

With a large population of people who suffer from aphasia, it is imperative that an effective form of therapy is utilized. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) programs in improving the communication needs and lives of people affected by aphasia. Individuals (n = 20) suffering from aphasia for 3 months or more completed therapy sessions with speech and language pathologists and the AAC program. Pre- and post-intervention evaluations were administered, consisting of communication satisfaction and success questionnaires, the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB), and probing tests (prompt and response) with an EEG component. Only preliminary data analyses were completed, on three individuals, due to setbacks. All individuals improved on their post-WAB score and average scores on the questionnaires generally increased, but none were statistically significant. However, clinicians noted a clinical significance in improvements, which suggests that AACs are beneficial in aiding and improving people’s communicative functions and daily life. Resting state EEG data of one subject exhibited high mean power spectral densities (PSD) for delta and theta bands in the lobes before and after therapy, supporting previous literature. Mean PSDs of the left frontal lobe demonstrated a statistically significant decrease from pre- to post-, which in the case of the delta and theta bands may indicate possible recovery. More research is necessary to substantiate these conclusions and to explore the use of EEG in mapping brain lesions and tracking the brain’s rehabilitation, as well as the benefits of AACs

“We Can’t Paint Them with One Brush”: Creating Opportunities for Learning about Refugee Integration

This article presents the process of creation and initial outcomes of a pedagogical tool called Refugee Journeys: Identity, Intersectionality and Integration, which allows players the opportunity to experience settlement and integration from the identity of a refugee. The purpose of the tool is to educate players about the need for intersectional approaches to refugee service provision, to foster a sense of admiration and respect for refugees’ experiences, and to interact with public policies from the perspective of the least privileged. Outcomes involve recognitions that individual identities affect integration experiences and meaningful discussions about refugee integration, identity, and discrimination.Cet article présente le processus de création et les premiers  résultats d’un outil pédagogique appelé  Refugee Journeys: Identity, Intersectionality and Integration [Parcours de réfugié : identité, intersectionnalité et intégration] qui donne aux joueurs la possibilité de vivre un établissement et une intégration sous l’identité d’un réfugié. L’objectif de l’outil est d’instruire les joueurs quant à la nécessité des approches intersectionnelles pour fournir des services aux réfugiés, de favoriser le sens de l’admiration et du respect vis-à-vis des expériences des réfugiés et d’interagir avec les politiques publiques à partir de la perspective du moins privilégié. Les résultats se traduisent par une reconnaissance de l’influence des identités propres sur les expériences d’intégration et par des discussions constructives sur l’intégration, l’identité et la discrimination des réfugiés

Hong Kong

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/120388/1/Lam_HongKong.pd

Evolutionary tracks for Betelgeuse

We have constructed a series of non-rotating quasi-hydrostatic evolutionary models for the M2 Iab supergiant Betelgeuse ($\alpha~Orionis$). Our models are constrained by multiple observed values for the temperature, luminosity, surface composition and mass loss for this star, along with the parallax distance and high resolution imagery that determines its radius. We have then applied our best-fit models to analyze the observed variations in surface luminosity and the size of detected surface bright spots as the result of up-flowing convective material from regions of high temperature in the surface convective zone. We also attempt to explain the intermittently observed periodic variability in a simple radial linear adiabatic pulsation model. Based upon the best fit to all observed data, we suggest a best progenitor mass estimate of $20 ^{+5}_{-3} M_\odot$ and a current age from the start of the zero-age main sequence of $8.0 - 8.5$ Myr based upon the observed ejected mass while on the giant branch.Comment: 27 pages, 11 figures, Revised per referee suggestions, Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Behavioral Couple Therapy: Partner-Involved Treatment for Substance-Abusing Women

Among the various psychosocial interventions presently available to treat alcohol and drug abuse, it could be argued that partner-involved treatments are the most broadly efficacious. There is not only substantial empirical support for the use of couple-based treatments in terms of improvements in primary targeted outcomes, such as substance use and relationship adjustment, but also in other areas that are of clear public health significance, including intimate partner violence (IPV), children\u27s adjustment, and cost-benefit ratio and cost-effectiveness. During the last few decades, programmatic research on the application of partner-involved therapies for substance abuse has been among the most active and fruitful. Although marital and family therapies for substance abuse have been used with a wide variety of patient populations, the purpose of this chapter is to focus on the application of partner-involved interventions with women who abuse substances and are in intimate relationships. More specifically, we (1) provide a conceptual rationale as to why couple therapy for female patients with substance abuse problems may be particularly appealing, compared to more traditional individual-based approaches; (2) describe theoretical and practical considerations involved when implementing couple therapy with these patients; (3) examine available evidence for the efficacy of couple therapy with female patients who abuse alcohol and drug; and (4) discuss future directions with respect to partner-involved therapies with these patients